Relief to Jaffna

10 September 2006

The A9, which connects Jaffna and Colombo has been closed for the last two months. The A9 was the only road giving  access to the Jaffna mainland for  the transportation of  essential items. The provisions brought in by the cargo ship Mercs Ruhunu was adequate only for one week and the Jaffna Bakery Owners Association has complained that the stock of flour is only enough to meet their needs for the next three days. A second shipload has also arrived at the KKS port but it will still not be enough for the people in Jaffna. 

The Jaffna NGO Consortium states that the quantity of items brought in by a single cargo ship is not enough to meet the needs of the population in Jaffna.

Essential supplies are usually brought into the peninsula by hundreds of lorries on a daily basis. Meanwhile none of the essential items, including flour, sugar, lentils and cooking oil, were available in any of the business establishments. The price of sugar has doubled and is sold at LKR 130 per kg. Flour, which was being sold at three times the market price, was not even available in grocery shops.

There is also a severe shortage of petrol, diesel and kerosene. If the A9 is not reopened in time, the entire population of the Jaffna peninsula will face starvation. The Alliance Development Trust is continuing  its  relief efforts in Jaffna. Up to now the relief team was able to support over 1400 families with essential food supplies.

On 10 September 2006, Alliance Development Trust helped a number of families  in Thenmarachchi. Nearly 270 packs of food items and bare essentials were distributed.